All Chapters of Straight Until Him: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Alessandro’s POVI couldn’t sleep. That's how much bother I felt. My room felt suffocating. Everything from last night kept replaying itself in my mind: the taste of his lips, the warmth of his hands, the smirk that made my chest ache.And that's when everything hit me like a thousand thunderbolts. All of the things that had been going on. They all came at me head on. Micah was not just some stranger I had lost myself with. He was family. My fiancée’s brother.The thought made me sick. My hands shook as I gripped the edge of my desk. What if Sandra finds out? What if anyone finds out?I was not just in trouble, I am in deep.I tried to push the panic down. Tried to focus on breakfast, on the meetings ahead, on the family gatherings that demanded composure. But every corner of the Romano mansion felt like a trap. Every polished surface, every whisper of servants’ footsteps reminded me that my life was a performance. And last night’s betrayal, my betrayal, hung over me like smoke I coul

Micah’s POVThe sunlight hit the blinds in sharp stripes across the room. My thoughts were not on the morning, or the coffee I hadn’t even brewed yet. They were on him. Alessandro.I could still feel his hand brushing against mine, the tension in his shoulders when Sandra laughed and pulled him through the boutique. He tried so hard, as he always does, to act calm and pretend that he feels nothing. And I could see everything.I sat up, running a hand through my hair. “God,” I muttered to myself. “He is too perfect. Too broken. I should not want him like this. And yet…”This burdened me. I noticed the cars outside, but all I focused on was Alessandro’s pale blue eyes refusing to meet mine, the redness of his cheeks, and the tiny shake of his hands when I am close.I just could not stop going over and over it.The kisses. The night at the gala. His taste still lingered like some sadistic perfume I could not rub off. He was clueless or not.Why did I care? He was my sister’s fiancée. Tha

Alessandro’s POVThe city looked quiet from the top floor, but inside my chest, it was chaos.I had not gone back to the Romano mansion after yesterday. I just could not. My father’s voice was already ringing in my ears even from a distance, and if I had seen him last night, I might have broken. So, I came here. My penthouse.Clean lines. Glass walls. Leather couch. Everything in its place, almost too neat, because I never really lived here. A second home, a cage with a better view.I stood in front of the mirror, my tie loose, my hair a mess. My reflection mocked me. Tired eyes. Lips still remembering Micah’s kiss. My phone still carrying the shadow of that message.“Control yourself,” I whispered. But the mirror did not believe me. Well, neither did I.The buzzer rang.I froze. Nobody came here. Nobody knew… except… Nicole.When I opened the door, I almost slammed it shut again.Sandra.She was dressed in pale pink, flawless as always, makeup sharp enough to cut. She smiled, wide an

Alessandro’s POVI closed the door behind Sandra, slowly and burdensome like I was settling against it. I released the weight of her heels from behind me and sunk my shoulders beneath the pressure of the past hour.Then her words replayed in my mind.Everyone is watching.The phrasing sounded less like advice, and more like a curse.When I looked back, Nicole was on the love seat with her legs folded, looking like the boss of the sofa. She hugged my juice in her hand with one raised eyebrow, and she supped from it, her eyes pinned on me."Well," she said casually, with a toothy grin. “That was… dramatic.”I exhaled, dragging myself to the armchair across from her. “You stayed.”“Of course I stayed,” she said, rolling her eyes. “What did you think, Ale? I would leave you alone with a walking ice sculpture in pink silk? Not a chance.”Her tone made me chuckle under my breath.Nicole leaned forward, her grin wide. “Honestly, I thought I walked in on a soap opera. The way she touched your

Alessandro’s POVThe mansion glowed with lights when we returned from the press conference. My face still ached from smiling. Hours of flashing cameras, fake laughter, and Sandra’s perfectly timed touches had left my jaw stiff. My hand still felt heavy from holding hers too long.“Alessandro,” my father’s voice boomed the moment I walked in. He was in a good mood, which was rare. “You finally remembered you have a home.”I stiffened. “Well… I never forgot.”He laughed. “You looked strong out there. A true Romano. I could almost believe you have finally stepped into your role.”Almost. Always almost with him.Before I could open my oral cavity to utter a word, my mother placed her gentle hands on my shoulder. She was standing near me, her voice fell on me. “You did well tonight, Ales.”My eyes met hers, and for just a second, I felt the weight in my chest drop. I could see that she was not too happy about the dramatic show Sandra and I put on; she was just worried about me. She looked